Advance reading list

It is not compulsory to read anything before you arrive on the course. If you would like to begin preparing, however, these are the books you are recommended to begin with.

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MSc Data Science 

Here is a list of texts that it may be useful for you to familiarise yourself with before you begin your course with us. If you would like to request a more comprehensive reading list, please get in touch with us. 

  • Shah, C., Anderson, T., Hagen, L., & Zhang, Y. (2021). An iSchool approach to data science: Human‐centered, socially responsible, and context‐driven. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 72(6), 793-796.
  • Donoho, D. (2017). 50 years of data science. Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, 26(4), 745-766. (Core)
  • Kitchin, R. (2021). The Data Revolution: A critical analysis of big data, open data and data infrastructures, SAGE Publications Ltd (Core) 
  • Noble, S. (2018) Algorithms of Oppression. NYU Press: New York. (Core)
  • Provost, F., & Fawcett, T. (2013). Data science for business (Vol. 1). O'reilly. (Core)
     
MA Global Journalism

Core readings:

  • Barendt, E. (2007) Freedom of speech. Oxford University Press.
  • Conboy, M. (2013) Journalism studies: The basics. Routledge.
  • Harcup, T. (2021) Journalism: Principles and practice. SAGE.
  • Loffelholz, M., Weaver, D. and Schwarz, A. (eds) (2008) Global journalism research. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
  • Price, L.T., Sanders, K. and Wyatt, W. (eds) (2021) Routledge companion to journalism ethics. Routledge.
  • Thussu, D. (2024) Changing geopolitics of global communication. Routledge.
  • Tong, J. (2022) Journalism in the data age. SAGE.

Supplementary readings:

  • Hanusch, F. (2017) ‘Web analytics and the functional differentiation of journalism cultures: Individual, organizational and platform-specific influences on newswork’, Information, Communication & Society, 20(10), pp. 1571–1586. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2016.1241294
  • Kakutani, M. (2018) The death of truth. William Collins. Introduction and Chapter 1.
  • Middleton, K.R., Lee, W.E. and Stewart, D.R. (2017) The law of public communication. 10th edn. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315170589
  • Mitra, S., Palmer, L. and Seo, S. (2025) ‘What am I doing here? Self-reflexivity in cross-border journalism research’, The International Journal of Press/Politics, 30(2), pp. 618–634. https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612241279174
  • Porlezza, C. and Schapals, A.K. (2024) ‘AI ethics in journalism (studies): An evolving field between research and practice’, Emerging Media, 2(3), pp. 356–370. https://doi.org/10.1177/27523543241288818
  • Tandoc Jr., E.C., Jenkins, J., Thomas, R.J. and Westlund, O. (eds) (2020) Critical incidents in journalism: Pivotal moments reshaping journalism around the world. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003019688
  • Tong, J. (2017) ‘Technology and journalism: “Dissolving” social media content into disaster reporting on three Chinese disasters’, The International Communication Gazette, 79(4), pp. 400–418. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748048516682142
  • Waldron, J. (2012) The harm in hate speech. Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674065086 Chapters 1 and 4.
MA International Public and Political Communication
  • Aaron Davis, Political Communication: A New Introduction for Crisis Times (Polity, 2023)
  • Gadi Wolfsfeld, Understanding Media and Politics: 5 Principles in Political Communication (Routledge, 2011)
  • Susan Carruthers, Media at War (Palgrave, 2011)
  • Anders Hansen & David Machin, Media and Communication Research Methods (2019)
  • Daniel C. Hallin & Paolo Mancini, Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics (Cambridge University Press, 2004)
  • Nicholas J. Cull, Public Diplomacy: Foundations for Global Engagement in the Digital Age (Polity, 2019)
  • Joseph S. Nye, Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics (Public Affairs, 2004)
  • Manuel Castells, Communication Power (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed. 2013)
  • Robert M. Entman, Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and U.S. Foreign Policy (University of Chicago Press, 2004)
  • Zeynep Tufekci, Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest (Yale University Press, 2017)
  • Eytan Gilboa, 'The CNN Effect: The Search for a Communication Theory of International Relations', Political Communication, 22:1 (2005), pp. 27–44
MSc Information Management

Core readings

  • Bystrom, K., Heinstrom, J. and Ruthven, I. (2019). Information at Work: Information Management in the Workplace. London: Facet.
  • Choo, C-W. (2002). Information Management for the Intelligent Organisation: The Art of Scanning the Environment, Third Edition. Medford (NJ): Libraries Unlimited.
  • Ford, N. (2015). Introduction to Information Behaviour. London: Facet.
  • Ruthven, I. (2011). Interactive Information Seeking, Behaviour and Retrieval. London: Facet.
  • Smallwood, R-F. (2019). Information Governance: Concepts, Strategies and Best Practices, Second Edition, Second Edition. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley.

Supplementary readings

  • Cadle, J. (2017). Project Management for Information Systems. London: Prentice-Hall.
  • Kendall, K.E. (2020). Systems Analysis and Design, Tenth Edition. Harlow: Pearson.
  • Monge, A. Database Design with UML and SQL, Fourth Edition. Available at: https://web.csulb.edu/colleges/coe/cecs/dbdesign/dbdesign.php
  • Osterwalder, A. (2020). Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley.
  • https://www.calormen.com/jslogo/
MSc Information Systems

Core readings

  • Bednar, P. M., & Welch, C. (2020). Socio-technical perspectives on smart working: Creating meaningful and sustainable systems. Information Systems Frontiers, 22(2), 281-298.
  • Beynon-Davies, P. (2020). Business Information Systems. Basingstoke (3rd edition), Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan UK.
  • Oates, B. J., Griffiths, M., & McLean, R. (2021). Researching information systems and computing (Second edition). SAGE Publications Ltd.
  • Sarker, S., Chatterjee, S., Xiao, X., & Elbanna, A. (2019). The sociotechnical axis of cohesion for the IS discipline: Its historical legacy and its continued relevance. MIS quarterly, 43(3), 695-720.
  • Special Edition of First Monday (2020) "Digital inequalities" 25 (7) https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/issue/view/672
  • Thamhain, H. J. (2014). Managing technology-based projects: Tools, techniques, people and business processes. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Valacich, J. S., & George, J. F. (2021). Modern systems analysis and design (Ninth edition, global edition). Pearson.

Supplementary readings

  • Avison, D., & Fitzgerald, G. (2006). Information Systems Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools (4th – 6th ed.). London: McGraw-Hill Education / Europe, Middle East & Africa
  • Chaffey, D., Edmundson-Bird, D., & Hemphill, T. (2019). Digital business and e-commerce management. Pearson UK. Chapters 3-6 and 10.
  • Checkland, P., & Scholes, J. (1999). Soft systems methodology in action. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Dwivedi, Y. K., Wastell, D., Laumer, S., Henriksen, H. Z., Myers, M. D., Bunker, D., ... & Srivastava, S. C. (2015). Research on information systems failures and successes: Status update and future directions. Information systems frontiers, 17, 143-157.
  • Galliers, R. D. and Currie, W. L. (2011). The Oxford Handbook of Management Information Systems: Critical Perspectives and New Directions. Oxford: Oxford Handbooks Online.
  • Heeks, R. (2018). Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). Routledge.  Chapter 1: Understanding ICT4D. Horstmann, C. S. (2016). Core Java (10th edition). Boston: Prentice Hall.
  • Jones, G. R. (2013). Organizational Theory, Design, and Change (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
  • Kendall, E. & Kendall, J. E. (2019) Systems Analysis and Design (10th Edition). Pearson.
  • Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2022). Management information systems: Managing the digital firm (Seventeenth Edition, Global Edition). Pearson.
  • Lessig, L. (2006). Code: And Other Laws of Cyberspace (Version 2.0). New York: Basic Books.
  • Morabito, V. (2016). The Future of Digital Business Innovation (1st ed.) Springer International Publishing.
  • Ndulu, B., Stuart, E., Dercon, S., & Knaack, P. (2023). Driving Digital Transformation: Lessons from Seven Developing Countries (p. 241). Oxford University Press. Chapters 5-8.
  • Toyama, K. (2015). Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the Cult of Technology (First Edition). PublicAffairs. - Chapter 2: The Law of Amplification.
  • W3Schools. (2019). Python Tutorial Retrieved June 27, 2019 from https://www.w3schools.com/python/
MSc Information Systems Management

Core readings

  •  Cadle, James, and Donald Yeates. (2007). Project Management for Information Systems, Pearson Education.
  • Kendall, Kenneth, and Julie Kendall. (2019). Systems Analysis and Design, Global Edition, Pearson Education.
  • Laudon, Kenneth, et al. (2025). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, Global Edition -- EPub, Pearson Education. 
  • Maheshwari, Anup. (2019). Digital Transformation : Building Intelligent Enterprises, John Wiley & Sons. 
  •  Marchewka, J. T. (2015). Information technology project management : providing measurable organizational value (Fifth edition.). Wiley & Sons.
  • Maylor, Harvey. (2022). Project Management, Pearson Education.
  • Porter, Michael E., Competitive advantage : creating and sustaining superior performance : with a new introduction
  • Valacich, J. S., & George, J. F. (2017). Modern systems analysis and design (Eighth edition.). Pearson.

Supplementary readings

  • Avison, D., & Fitzgerald, G. (2006). Information Systems Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools (4th – 6th ed.). London: McGraw-Hill Education / Europe, Middle East & Africa.
  • Davenport, T. H. (2006, January). Competing on analytics. Harvard Business Review, 84(1), 98–134.
  • Dignum, V., & Crawford, K. (2021). [Rev. of Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence]. Nature (London), 593(7860), 499–500.
  • Galliers, R. D. and Currie, W. L. (2011). The Oxford Handbook of Management Information Systems: Critical Perspectives and New Directions. Oxford: Oxford Handbooks Online.
  • Ives, B., Valacich, J. S., Watson, R. T., Zmud, R. W., Alavi, M., Baskerville, R., . . . Whinston, A. B. (2002). What every business student needs to know about information systems. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 9, 30. doi:https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.00930
  • Jones, G. R. (2013). Organizational Theory, Design, and Change (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
  • Morabito, V. (2016). The Future of Digital Business Innovation (1st ed.) Springer International Publishing.

Readings for Management School modules

  • Arnold, J. et al. (2016) Work Psychology: Understanding Human Behaviour in the Workplace. Sixth Edition, Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education.
  • Buckley, P., Enderwick, P, & Cross, A. International Business. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.
  • Cavusgil, S., Knight, G, A., & Riesenberger, J.R. International Business: The new realities (Fifth edition, global ed.). Boston: Pearson, 2020.
  • Clegg, S., Kornberger, M. and Pitsis, T. (2011) Managing & organizations: An introduction to theory and practice. London: Sage.
  • Collier, D. A. and Evans, J. R. (2013) “Operations Management: OM6” Student Edition (Book only) South Western Cengage Learning, USA (or latest version available).
  • Collinson, S., Narula, R. & Rugman, A. International Business (Eighth ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson 2020
  • Lynch, R. L. (2018). Strategic Management. 8th Edition. Harlow: Pearson. ISBN 9781292211404.
  • Redman, T. and Wilkinson, A. (2013) Contemporary Human Resource Management, (Fourth Edition), Harlow: Pearson Education. Electronic version available via StarPlus.
  • Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. and Johnston, R. (2013) “Operations Management”, 7th Edition, Pearson education, Harlow, England. ISBN: 978-0-273-77620-8 (or latest version available).
  • Whittington, R., Regnér, P., Angwin, D., Johnson, G. & Scholes, K. (2019). Exploring Strategy Text and Cases, Twelfth edition. Harlow: Pearson, ISBN: 1292282452.
MA Journalism

We would very much like you to get a head start on your shorthand skills before you get here. We have seen that students who get a head start on their shorthand before they arrive have a much higher chance of success.

We would like you to work through the first six chapters of Teeline Gold Standard for Journalists before you arrive. You don't have to be perfect, but we want you to attempt all the exercises. We'll refresh you on them when you get here and can give you pointers on areas of confusion.

Other reading:

Frost, C (2015). Journalism Ethics and Regulation. Routledge. 
Buy on Amazon

Harcup, T (2021) Journalism: Principles and Practice. Sage.
Buy on Amazon

Randall, D (2016). The Universal Journalist - Fifth Edition. Pluto Press.
Buy on Amazon

Harrison, S and Hanna, M. Mcnae's Essential Law for Journalists: 26th Edition. Oxford.

Buy on the NCTJ website

MA Library & Information Services Management

MA Library & Information Services Management

Welcome to the preliminary reading/resources list for the MA Library and Information Services Management programme. This list is for those of you who want to start preparing for the programme, and have asked us for recommendations for reading. 

We emphasise that you do not have to do any reading before the programme starts, and you certainly do not have to read everything on the list. If you are not sure where to start, browse through and see what captures your interest: it might be something on a topic you are familiar with, or something new to you.

Engaging with the Library and Information Profession

CILIP: The Library and Information Association is the UK professional body that accredits our courses. They have a programme of professional development including formal routes to Chartership, and support for careers. It is well worth exploring their website to understand the breadth of the profession and see how CILIP can support your career development.

You might also find it useful to browse the websites of other specialist professional associations:

IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions is an international advocate for the library and information profession. Their website is vast, but of particular interest is the Development and Access to Information 2024 report which connects the library profession with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):  https://repository.ifla.org/items/dc855e75-7dec-4260-a90e-7b3f4709e631 

Information Literacy and Information Behaviour

The two main strands in the Information Literacy module are Information Literacy (IL) and teaching IL. We also introduce research from the Information Behaviour (IB) research field. These are some starting points that you will find useful for the module.

Giving a perspective on the development and breadth of IL: 

  • Webber, S. & Johnston, B. (2017). Information literacy: conceptions, context and the formation of a discipline. Journal of Information Literacy, 11(1), 156-183. https://doi.org/10.11645/11.1.2205

The most used framework for IL, which we we look at later in semester 1: 

On the topic of teaching information literacy: we will be using a number of chapters from this open-access textbook. You don't have to read it all! We suggest reading the first 2 chapters and then selecting what interests you most: 

  • Saunders, L. & Wong, M. (2020). Instruction in libraries and information centers: An introduction. Windsor & Downs Press. https://doi.org/10.21900/wd.12

At the start of the semester we will be drawing on a process for teaching information literacy (Guided Inquiry Learning) that was developed by an Information Behaviour researcher, Carol Kuhlthau, based on her own IB model. She describes it herself here: 

IB research is carried out all over the world. As an example, this was part of a special issue (in Spanish and English) looking at IB in different regions/countries: 

  • Fourie, I. (2023). Information behavior research in Africa: past, potential and a “cry” for impactful research. Information, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.35643/info.28.1.6 The English language pdf is here. 

For keeping up to date with what's going on in IL:

Libraries, Information & Society

This module provides an overview of the role of library and information services (LIS) in contemporary society. Students are introduced to current practices and contemporary concerns in academic, national, public, school, prison and special/workplace libraries and encouraged to develop an awareness of the social, economic, political and cultural environment in which LIS operates. It examines the importance of users in the design and management of LIS, explores ethical issues and aims to develop a critical awareness of the role of LIS in contemporary society.

You may wish to familiarise yourself with the CILIP Ethical Framework and browse some of the resources available as part of the REVEAL Project (Reinforcing Ethics and Values for Effective Advocacy for Libraries).

The article below on ethical dilemmas is a helpful introduction to the kind of dilemmas experienced by library and information professionals, including an extensive table of professional examples which we will consider in the module:

Below are introductory resources on some of the library sectors we will explore in this module:

Artificial intelligence (AI)

We recommend the following readings to start thinking about AI and its significance and implications for the LIS profession and professionals:

  • Cox, A. M., & Mazumdar, S. (2022). Defining artificial intelligence for librarians. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 56(2), 330-340. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006221142029

  • Baer, A. (2026). When Is Critical AI Literacy Critical? Critical AI Literacy Discourse and Principles of Critical Pedagogy. Library Trends, 74(4), 742-759.  https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2026.a992003 (open access) 

Library-Themed podcasts

These are podcasts recommended by staff and current students:

MA Librarianship

Welcome to the preliminary reading/ resources list for the MA Librarianship programme. This list is for those of you who want to start preparing for the programme, and have asked us for recommendations for reading. 

We emphasise that you do not have to do any reading before the programme starts, and you certainly do not have to read everything on the list. If you are not sure where to start, browse through and see what captures your interest: it might be something on a topic you are familiar with, or something new to you. 

Engaging with the Library and Information Profession

CILIP: The Library and Information Association is the UK professional body that accredits our courses. They have a programme of professional development including formal routes to Chartership, and support for careers. It is well worth exploring their website to understand the breadth of the profession and see how CILIP can support your career development.

You might also find it useful to browse the websites of other specialist professional associations:


IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions is an international advocate for the library and information profession. Their website is vast, but of particular interest is the Development and Access to Information 2024 report which connects the library profession with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):  https://repository.ifla.org/items/dc855e75-7dec-4260-a90e-7b3f4709e631

Library-themed podcasts

These are podcasts recommended by staff and current students:

Information literacy and information behaviour

The two main strands in the Information Literacy module are Information Literacy (IL) and teaching IL. We also introduce research from the Information Behaviour (IB) research field. These are some starting points that you will find useful for the module.

Giving a perspective on the development and breadth of IL:
Webber, S. & Johnston, B. (2017). Information literacy: conceptions, context and the formation of a discipline. Journal of Information Literacy, 11(1), 156-183. https://doi.org/10.11645/11.1.2205

The most used framework for IL, which we we look at later in semester 1:

On the topic of teaching information literacy: we will be using a number of chapters from this open-access textbook. You don't have to read it all! We suggest reading the first 2 chapters and then selecting what interests you most:

  • Saunders, L. & Wong, M. (2020). Instruction in libraries and information centers: An introduction. Windsor & Downs Press. https://doi.org/10.21900/wd.12

At the start of the semester we will be drawing on a process for teaching information literacy (Guided Inquiry Learning) that was developed by an Information Behaviour researcher, Carol Kuhlthau, based on her own IB model. She describes it herself here:
Kuhlthau, C. (n.d.). Guided Inquiry design. https://wp.comminfo.rutgers.edu/ckuhlthau/guided-inquiry-design/

IB research is carried out all over the world. As an example, this was part of a special issue (in Spanish and English) looking at IB in different regions/countries:

  • Fourie, I. (2023). Information behavior research in Africa: past, potential and a “cry” for impactful research. Information, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.35643/info.28.1.6 The English language pdf is here. 

For keeping up to date with what's going on in IL:

Libraries, Information & Society

This module provides an overview of the role of library and information services (LIS) in contemporary society. Students are introduced to current practices and contemporary concerns in academic, national, public and special/workplace libraries and encouraged to develop an awareness of the social, economic, political and cultural environment in which LIS operate. It examines the importance of users in the design and management of LIS, explores ethical issues and aims to develop a critical awareness of the role of LIS in contemporary society.

You may wish to familiarise yourself with the CILIP Ethical Framework and browse some of the resources available as part of the REVEAL Project (Reinforcing Ethics and Values for Effective Advocacy for Libraries).

The article below on ethical dilemmas is a helpful introduction to the kind of dilemmas experienced by library and information professionals, including an extensive table of professional examples which we will consider in the module:

Below are introductory resources on some of the library sectors we will explore in this module:

The IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 2022 

Artificial intelligence (AI)

We recommend the following readings to start thinking about AI and its significance and implications for the LIS profession and professionals:

  • Cox, A. M., & Mazumdar, S. (2022). Defining artificial intelligence for librarians. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 56(2), 330-340. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006221142029

  • Baer, A. (2026). When Is Critical AI Literacy Critical? Critical AI Literacy Discourse and Principles of Critical Pedagogy. Library Trends, 74(4), 742-759.  https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2026.a992003 (open access)